Montrose Memorial Hospital has entered into an association with Mayo Medical Laboratories, which is the national reference laboratory of Mayo Clinic, located in Rochester, Minnesota. This arrangement expands MMH’s laboratory testing menu and gives us access to the complex tests performed by Mayo Medical Laboratories. While we still perform most of the tests in our lab here, it gives MMH access to Mayo’s team of experts and will strengthen MMH’s efforts to provide exceptional lab services and patient care to our community.

The "lab" at MMH is a fascinating, busy and interesting place. There are various functions happening throughout this hub of activity. Some patient samples are tested for bacterial pathogens and other organisms that may cause disease. The organism is then identified for your care provider so they can determine what may be needed for proper treatment. Tissue samples are reviewed for cancer and other diseases in the pathology area of the lab. The lab staff also works closely with the two Pathologists, Dr. Michael Benziger and Dr. Nick Radovich when they analyze the biopsy tissue samples, perform autopsies and other procedures. The phlebotomists are some of the people in the lab you have probably seen. They are the ones who draw the blood samples for testing in the laboratory.

The collaboration with Mayo allows MMH to offer access to more specialized laboratory testing for our health care providers. These specialized specimens will be transported via air to Mayo Medical Laboratory and the test results will often be available through a computer interface the next day. If needed, the pathologists at Mayo will be available to consult with our physicians regarding which test to run, what method to use and how to interpret the results.